Racing apparatus



Dec. 18, 1934. E. BALLEW RACING APPARATUS Filed April l, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l ZY/meri. a/eza INVENTOR H S ATTORN EYS Dec. 18, 1934. E BALLEW 1,984,452

RACING APPARATUS Filed April 1, 1932 2 shqets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES PAT ENfI1 GFFTIPCE This invention relates to certain 4novel improvements in a racing apparatus, and hasior its principal `object fthe provision of an improved construction vof this character which will be.

highly eiiicient iin .use .andLeconomical in manufacture.

,An .object of .this invention is `to provide new, improved, .relatively inexpensive, .portable dog racing .apparatus which .may .be readily assem bled, .knocked zdown, ltransported, .and -reassembled.

Another object of the invention ris to provide a new .and `improved intermittently disappearing lure and :new and improved :means `for operating said lure.

4:further object of the invention lis Ito provide novel and eiiicient starting box transporting and operating mechanism.

.@theriobjeots'of the invention are: to iprovide a :novel combination of movable endless tracks; to associatefences lwithsaidtracksto provide individual :racing aisles for the ydogs; and to provide means:associatedwith said fences and tracks for effectively zpreventing injury @to the `feet vof the dogs.

fadditional object of the invention is to provide novel means for automatically operating an intermittently disappearing lure from the track operating means.

Another V.obieet oi the invention is .to 4provide novel means :associated with 'the -track yfor preventing 4injury to the vdogsshould they fall while racing on the .traok.

A `further object kof the invention is to provide new vand effective means for tensioning the endless tracks embodied -in the invention.

Other objects will appearhereinaiter.

AThe .invention 'consists in the Inovel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described .and .claimed .The invention wil1 be best ,understood by .referenceto .the .accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, andin which:

Eig. 1..is a top 'plan view of .a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 'is a side lelevational view, partly in section, online 2-2 in Fig. 1;

`yFig. "3 1-is -an 'elevational view, partly in section, online B-B in Fig. i2;

niig.` f4 iis sa "transverse sectional view of the track, on line 1 -.4 5in Fig. `2;

.l.i1 g.;5 is an .-elevational'view oi one form of track-tensioning fmeans embodiedin the invention;

Fig. 6 ,-is tan elevational view, partl-yin section,

of a preferred form of disappearing lure-.mounting and lure-operating means;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view ofa modified form of disappearing lure-operating means; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view vof one form of endless r'5 track construction embodied in the invention.

The present invention includes a portable movable endless race track' generally indicatedzat 212, and this track may be mounted above the ground with platforms at the ends thereof or inapit 10` such as indicatedat lO'in the drawings. At one end of the pit 10 is an approach 1l to the track l2. At the other end of Itrack 12 is an exit 16 surrounded `by a fence 36. Thetrack 12 is movable over a bed of rollers 13 which are mounted in rail sections 14 supported by pedestals 15 arranged within the lpit 10.

While the track y12 may be formed of a single unit, it is preferred :to make the track '12 of a series of parallel nexible members or belts l1-7 20 which may be either endless or spliced. l[he operating means for the gendless tracks 17 includes a rotative advancing drum 18. The advancing drum `18 is journaled in standards 19, arranged in the pit 10. The drum 18 is mounted on a shaft 20 which carries a gear 2l. The gear 21 meshes with a gear 22 on the shaft of a motor 23. Instead of employing the gears 22 `and 21 for transmitting motion of the motor 23 to the shaft 20, however, other suitable operating vmeans may be -pro- 30 vided such as -a chain or belt drive or a ydirect connection of the motor`23 to shaft 20. At suitable intervals about the track `12 tensioning devices are provided. These tensioning devices `are described hereinafter and include tensioning 35 rollers 24, 25 and26.

A starting -box is indicated generally at 28. This starting box may be of any suitable design, such as the automatically `operated type, but in the present instance the starting box 28 is piv- 40 otally connected, as at 30, to supporting arms 31 which are pivotally mounted on a shaft 32. The shaft 32 is mounted on a wheeled carriage or truck 33. Extending between the arms 31 is a handle 35.- The vwheels 34 of the carriage '33 45 straddle `the track 12 so as to move the starting box 28 onto and off the track l2. The starting .box 28 is lprovided with a transparent front wall 29 and has lan open bottom.

Arranged at each side of each of the tracks 17 is a fence 37 and thesefences cooperate with the endless tracks 17 to provide individual racing aisles 38. To Vprevent the dogs .from getting their feet between the tracks 17, and thereby injuring the same, angesf39vare provided on the fences 55 37 and these flanges project (Fig. 4) over and above the side edges of the endless tracks 17. The inside fences 37 need not, however, always be employed and in this case flexible flaps 40 (Fig. 8) may be attached to the side edges of the endless tracks 17 to prevent injury to the feet of the dogs; certain of these iiaps 40 projecting over the spaces between the tracks 17, and other flaps 40 extending between the outside edges of the outer tracks 17 and the outer rails 37.

Various forms-of lure-operating means may be employed with the invention. One means is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and includes an arm 42. The arm 42 carries, at one end, the lure 41 and at the other end arm 42 is attached to a disc 44' which is pivotally mounted as at 43.' A handle.

45 is attached to the disc 44 and an opening 46 is provided in the fence 36 so that by grasping the handle 45 the lure 41 and its supportingarm 42 may be swung into and out of the track-exit area 16.

Fig. 6 illustrates preferred means for mounting and operating an intermittently disappearing lure 47. The lure 47 is mounted on a base 48 which is in turn mounted on a rotative shaft 49. The shaft 49 is arranged in a hole 50 provided in the track-exit area 16. VAttached to the base 48 of the'lure is a plate 51. Attached to shaft 49 is an arm 52. The arm 52 is connected by a rod or link53 to one arm 54 of a bell crank 55. The bell crank 55 is rockable on a shaft 56 arranged in front of and parallel to shaft 20 in the pit 10. The other arm l57 of bell crank 55 projects over shaft 20, and on shaft r2() is a cam 58.

Operation-The starting box 28 is moved to a point adjacent one end of the track as seen in Fig. 2. Thus the starting box 28 may be moved onto the approach 11 or into a position to straddle the track V12, as in Fig. 2. The motor 23 is 4then operated, motion being transmitted through gears 22 and 21 and shaft 20 to advancing drum 18 which revolves the endless tracks 17 (toward the left Figs. 1 and 2). After the tracks or belts 17 have attained a predetermined speed the starting box 28 is raised, by pulling down on handle 35, and the dogs then run out onto the tracks 17, and into the aisles 38 if the fences 37 are provided. In case the manually operated lure 41 is used this lure is, of course, then swung out into the position of Figs. 1 and 2 so as to lure the dogs toward the fenced trackexit area 16 into which they run when the motor 23 and tracks 17 are stopped, the lure 41 being then swung through the opening 46 in fence 36.

The operation of the lure-operating means of Fig. 6 isas follows: kAs the shaft 20 `and advancing drum 18 are rotated, cam 58 intermittently engages arm 57 of bell-crank 54 and rotates the bell crank 54 clockwise (Fig.6). Thismoves the rod 53 and arm 52 to the left (Fig. 6), thereby rocking shaft 49 clockwise, as seen in Fig. 6. This movement of shaft 49 rotates` the lure 47 into the hole while at the same time lrotating the plate 51 into position to close the hole 50 and conceal the lure 47. As the cam 58 rides olf the arm 57 of bell crank 55 a spring 59 retracts the bell crank (to full line position of Fig., 6) and` thereby pulls the rod 53 to the rightV (Figa` 6). This movement of rod 53 acts through arm 52 to rock shaft 49, plate 48, and lure 47 counterclockwise, Fig. 6, thus bringing the lure 47 up out of the hole 50. In this manner the lure 47 intermittently appears on the track-exit area 16 and likewise intermittently disappears therefrom. However, other means may be provided if desired for causing the lure to disappear at the finish of the race without using the intermittent rocker arm structure hereinbefore described.

In Fig. 7 a modication of the lure-operating means of Fig. 6 is shown. In this modification a hole 60 is provided in the track-exit area 16 and arranged in this hole is a standard 61 in which is slidably mounted a rack bar 62. On the rack bar 62 is a disc 63 and above the disc 63 is mounted the lure 64. Above the lure 64 is a second disc 65. The rack bar 62 meshes with a gear 66 which is fast on a rock shaft 67 that is mounted in the hole 60. Attached to shaft 67 is an arm 68 to which is pivotally connected a rod 69; the 1od'69 being similar to rod 58 and being similarly operated by bell-crank 55 and cam 58 to rock shaft 67'and gear 66 alternately clockwise and icounterclockwise, thereby raising and lowering rack bar 62. When the rack bar 62 is lowered the disc closes the hole 60 and conceals the lure 64 while when the rack bar 62 is raised the lure 64 appears above the ground. In this manner the lure 64 is caused to intermittently disappear into the hole 60 and to appear intermittently therefrom. However, other means may be provided for causing the lure to disappear at the finish of the race instead of using the rack bar and gear arrangement hereinbefore described.

Various forms of tensioning devices maybe used to tension the endless belts or tracks 17, but I prefer to use the means shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Said means includes the roller or drum 24 which is rotatably mounted in arms 66 that are pivotally attached to pedestals 15. arms 66 are threaded connected to adjusting screws 67.

The tensioning roller or drum 26 has trunnions 68'which are journaled in sleeves 69 thatare threaded onto screws 70. The screws 70 are mounted in supporting brackets 71 and cach of the screws 70 carries a gear 72 which meshes with a gear 73. The gears 73 are fast on shafts journaled in the brackets 71 and these last-named shafts carry handles 74. By rotating handles 74 gears 73 and `72 and screws 70 are operated to move the sleeves 69 and drum 26 and thereby vary the tension of drum 26 on the belts or tracks 17.

In Fig. 5 a modified form of tensioning device is shown and in this modification the trunnions 76 of the drum 23 are journaled in portions 75 of a wheeled carriage 77 that is movable on a supporting bed 78 arranged in the pit 10. Attached to this carriage 77 is a flexible element 79 which is movable over a roller 81; said element 79 carrying a counterweight 80.

This invention includes means for preventing injury to the dogs should they fall when racing on the tracks and be carried back toward the approach 11. To accomplish this end, when the track structure 12 is used in conjunction with a pit such as 10, a closure member in the form of a trap door 82 is hinged to the approach 11 as at 83 so as to act as a closure member over a portion of pit l0. The starting box 28 and carriage 33 are moved olf the track 12 after the race is started and the trap door 82 is then opened (swung counterclockwise Fig. 2) so that if a dog should fall while racing on one of the belts 17 he will be carried back toward the approach 11 and will fall into the end of the pit 10 wherein hay or other substance 84 is placed to protect the dog from injury. Further to protect the dog from injury,

These a shield 85 is placed over the operating means (gears 21 and 22) for the advancing drum 18.

In case the track structure 12 is mounted above the ground the closure member or trap door 82 may be hinged to a suitable platform or support and a pit may then be provided below the trap door so that the dog will fall thereinto in case he falls while racing and is carried back by one of the belts 17. Arranged at a suitable point at the exit end 16 of the track, such as on one of the fences 37, is a conventional indicating device 86 operated in a conventional manner to show the yardage of distance run by the dogs on the track 12 A trap doo-r such as 82 and a starting box such as 28 may be arranged at either or both ends of the track structure 12 and suitable means may be provided for reversing the direction of movement of the flexible track members 1'7 so that either end of the track may be the starting end.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification Without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. Animal racing apparatus comprising a movable track in the nature of an endless belt, means for operating said track, a lure, means for operating the lure, a pit below the level of the track at one end thereof and extending substantially beyond said end, and a closure member oversaid pit, said closure member being kept in open position when animals are racing upon the track so that an animal incapacitated upon the track may be carried thereby back into the open pit.

2. Animal racing apparatus comprising a movable track in the nature of an endless belt, an approach to the track, means for operating said track, a lure, means for operating the lure, a pit below the level of the track at one end thereof and between said end and said approach, and a closure member for said pit movably attached to said approach for projection over said pit, said closure member being kept in open position when animals are racing upon the track so that an animal incapacitated upon )the track may be carried thereby back into the open pit.

3. Racing apparatus comprising a series of movable tracks in the nature of endless belts arranged in edge to edge relation, partitions cooperating with said tracks to provide individual racing aisles, means for moving said belts, and guard means supported by said partitions extending over portions of the side edges of the belts.

4. In a racing apparatus, a racing stretch provided with a well, a lure, and means for movably mounting the lure in the well constructed and arranged to intermittently project the lure above the surface of said stretch.

5. In a racing apparatus, a racing stretch provided with a well, a lure, means for movably mounting the lure in the well constructed and arranged to intermittently project the lure above the surface of said stretch, and protective means operated by said first-named means to extend over said well when the lure is in its receded position.

6. In a racing apparatus, a racing stretch provided with a well, a lure, and means for movably mounting the lure in the well constructed and arranged to intermittently project the lure above thesurface of said stretch, said means comprising a rotatable structure.

7. In a racing apparatus, a racing stretch provided with a well, a lure, and means for movably mounting the lure in the well constructed and arranged to intermittently project the lure above the surface of said stretch, said means comprising a reciprocatory structure.

8. In a racirnT apparatus, a racing stretch provided wth a well, a lure, means for movably mounting the lure in the well constructed and arranged to intermittently project the lure above the surface of said stretch, said comprising a reciprocatory structure, and a protective guard for said well, said protective guard being operated by said means and being brought into play when the lure is in its receded position.`

ELMER L. BALLEW. 

